Smith Recalled; Defenseman Added to Roster

Boise, ID (12/27/12) - Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Brad Ralph announced Thursday morning that forward Austin Smith has been reassigned from the Idaho Steelheads to the Texas Stars by the Dallas Stars.

Idaho (ECHL) and Texas (AHL) are the primary development affiliates of the NHL's Stars.

Ralph also announced that the Steelheads have added defenseman James Isaacs to the roster.

Smith, 24, leads the Steelheads and ranks sixth in the entire ECHL in goals with 16. It's the second time this month that the team's leading goal-scorer has been recalled to the American Hockey League, the highest level of minor-league hockey in North America. Kael Mouillierat was loaned to St. John's of the AHL on December 6. At the time of his recall, he led the team with 14 tallies.

Smith (Texas), Hubert Labrie (Texas), Patrick Cullity (Springfield) and Mouillierat (St. John's) are each player who have spent significant time with Idaho this season who are currently on American Hockey League rosters.

The 23-year-old Isaacs re-joins the Steelheads after spending training camp with the team. Isaacs appeared in both pre-season games for Idaho, collecting seven penalty minutes and a plus-1 rating, before being released. The Victoria, BC, native had been playing with the Mississippi Surge of the Southern Professional Hockey League, notching ten points (two goals, eight assists) in 17 games where he teamed with former Steelheads Corey Tamblyn and Tommy Lange. Isaacs also played in Mississippi last season where he was a member of the SPHL's All-Rookie team.

The Steelheads (18-7-4) are in action on the road this weekend at Bakersfield (Saturday) and Las Vegas (Sunday) to draw the curtain on the 2012 calendar year.

Idaho returns home on Friday, January 4, to host the Bakersfield Condors. Group nights are a great way to get family, friends, co-workers, and colleagues together at CenturyLink Arena at a discounted price. Groups can also include a Double-R Ranch hot dog, Tim's Cascade chips, and a small Pepsi. Contact the Steelheads front office at 208.383.0080 or log on to www.idahosteelheads.com for more information.